Disclaimer: El Hazard is owned by AIC/Pioneer LDC.  The author owns only the writing.

Fire and Lightning

Chapter 4: Unwelcome Revelations 
Setting: Wilderness 
Shayla and Fujisawa walked down a mountain path. The two met by chance a few 
minutes earlier. He seemed ready to return to Floristica which surprised Shayla. 
Considering how many times Fujisawa skipped out on the wedding, Shayla wondered if 
he was just out of booze. Fujisawa insisted that this time he would go through with it. He 
was just waiting for the right time. "So what makes this the 'right time'?" she asked. 
"You'll see, Shayla. You'll see." was all he would answer. 
Afura floated down beside them. She didn't look too happy with Fujisawa, but she had 
news that might explain his actions. "Still on your walkabout? Or are you over him now?" 
she asked Shayla. 
Shayla's face flashed bright red for an instant indicating the answer was defiantly not the 
latter. "THAT is none of your concern." she said with indignation. 
"Well I just thought you might want to know he's back." 
Fujisawa laughed joyously knowing his suspicion was confirmed. Shayla was stunned, 
"He ... he's back. Back with Rune no doubt." 
Her spirits sunk visibly. "Oh there are also rumors that he brought back with him his twin 
brother. And that this twin destroyed a Bugrom carrier and captured the Demon God 
single-handedly." 
Shayla suspected Afura was teasing. Only someone as powerful as a Priestess of 
Fujisawa could take down a carrier alone. Even if this twin gained some sort of powerful 
ability, it takes time to develop skill using it. And capturing Ifurita? Ha! At best Shayla 
could fight her to a stand-still. No way someone else could actually defeat her. Afura had 
to be pulling her leg. Well what's fair is fair. "Well if he really did do that, I'll ... I'll marry 
him." Shayla said confident Afura's tale was an exaggeration. 
"Well if you say so. I have an air car for us. That is unless you wish your future spouses 
to wait a bit longer." 
Shayla went along with the joke. Fujisawa said "Lead the way, Afura." and began down 
the hill. 
On the way back, Shayla was still under the impression Afura was kidding and pressed 
for details. Finally the wind priestess said, "Listen, I'm just telling you what I heard. 
Makoto is back along with his twin. This twin was able to kill all the Bugrom on a carrier 
and render Ifurita unconscious. That's it. Asking me more questions won't make the 
details appear in my head." 
"Just relax Shayla and have a drink. It'll be a while before we get back. All of us want to 
see Makoto again." Fujisawa said hefting a jug of wine in a friendly toast. 
She sat down next to him and accepted the drink. After a few swallows she whispered, 
"Ya think it's true?" 
"What's true?" 
"This twin. Makoto never mentioned it. But it also never came up." 
"Nahhhh. I'm his teacher. I'd know if he had a brother. I mean if they're twins they'd be in 
the same class." 
Fujisawa was right, Shayla reasoned. But then he didn't know Afura like she did. Afura 
wasn't one to make jokes, much less let one go on for so long. She must have been 
hanging out with Nanami. Yeah, that's it. Nanami put her up to this. Still there were 
doubts which began to grow as they approached the palace. 
Festivities for the reunion were being prepared as they entered. It wasn't hard to tell 
where Makoto was. "'Bout time you got back. I knew you could do it." Fujisawa said as 
friendly hugs were exchanged. 
When Shayla and Makoto hugged, it was just a friendly 'glad to see you again' hug. Not 
one shared between two people romantically involved. She could tell he did not return 
her feelings, or was even aware of them. Still it was good to see him. They were friends, 
that was all. 
"Well I couldn't have done it without Shikei." Makoto said humbly. 
"He your brother I heard about? I didn't know you had one." Fujisawa said. 
"Neither did I until he helped me return to Earth. Where did he...." Makoto's voice trailed 
off. Shikei was right behind him a moment ago. Makoto looked down the hallway they 
were in and didn't see him. His eyes wandered up and there he was, sitting on the parapet 
of one of the internal guard mini-towers. In ages past, as part of security, these twelve-
foot towers were put in key corridors and rooms to serve as lookouts during parties. Over 
time and reconstruction, these became more used as podiums and a place to hang 
banners. 
Shayla couldn't see Shikei too well due to the lighting, but she clearly saw what he held: 
Ifurita's powerstaff. Afura softly sang the introduction to the Wedding March behind her. 
Shayla turned around angry and embarrassed. Miz had entered the room and Afura was 
facing her and her fiance as they embraced. Shayla was left fuming in ambiguity over 
who Afura's little song applied to. 
Makoto scratched his head, "I wonder what he's doing up there. Hey! Shikei! Come down 
from there!" 
Shikei didn't respond, his grip on the powerstaff weakened, lowering it slowly to the 
platform. "I'll see what's wrong." Makoto said running to the ladder. The others followed. 
The sleep Shikei and Makoto had when they returned to El Hazard wasn't a real sleep. 
Shikei had been pushing all-nighters for the past few days. The fight with Jinnai drained 
him of most of his energy. Determination alone was what kept him standing on the way 
back to the palace. But a strong will can only override the body's needs for so long before 
the body takes control. Shikei considered himself lucky he managed to slip to a spot 
where most people wouldn't notice him before he collapsed into total exhaustion. 
Makoto peeked over the top of the ladder and whispered to the others, "He's just asleep. I 
guess throwing lightning makes you tired." 
"He can do that? No wonder he was able to capture Ifurita. <heh> Guess demons and 
electricity don't mix very well." Shayla muttered. 
"Well we can't just leave him there. He might fall down." Fujisawa said slipping back 
into 'sensei' mode. 
"What's going on?" Rune asked from behind. She spent the past few hours working with 
the servants for the 'welcome back' party. She didn't like being forced to leave him again 
after just being reunited, but at least he wasn't going anywhere and he needed to see the 
others. 
"My brother fell asleep up there. We're trying to see if we can get him down and move 
him to some place more comfortable." 
"Well, why don't you use your wings to fly him down?" 
"Wings?" everyone said in unison. 
"Uhh right. I forgot to mention. When I came back to El Hazard, I got a second power. 
This." Makoto demonstrated by extending his new translucent wings. 
Fujisawa looked at Makoto's back to see why they didn't rip holes in his uniform. They 
started about a centimeter from his body, fully separate from his body. "And you can fly 
with these?" he asked skeptical. 
"Well yes, but they're not that strong yet. I could barely carry Princess Rune and myself 
five hundred meters before they were exhausted." 
"Oh I'll get him." Shayla said frustrated jumping up to the podium herself. She created 
some light from her lamp and got a closer look. This was Makoto's twin all right. Same 
honest trusting face. But this one was slightly different. It wasn't just the minute scar 
Shikei had, a type of discipline and self-control showed through even in his sleep. Shayla 
felt he could wake up at any moment. His clothes were another matter, light grey with 
dark grey patches complete with a cowl. It made him look dangerous. Shikei's two ferrets 
were snuggled on his chest sleeping peacefully. She was very reluctant to wake him up. 
Doubts were pushed aside when she noticed everyone was looking at her, especially 
Afura. 
"Hey, this that's a podium not a hotel. This is no time for sleep." Shayla said shaking 
Shikei slightly. 
"Uh Shayla, I don't think it's that important...." Makoto started. 
Shikei was awake in an instant and grabbed Shayla's wrist. When his eyes focused and he 
composed himself a second later, he let go. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that. I'll 
leave." he apologized. 
He stumbled a little when he leaped down. Shayla, regretting her decision to wake him, 
tried to steady Shikei. But he politely refused, insisting he was all right. He took a step, 
then stumbled again as if his body was mocking his words. 
"Londs, please escort Shikei to a room so he could rest." Rune said. 
Londs nodded and politely led Shikei away. He recognized a warrior's barring when he 
sees it and would not insult Shikei by offering a hand. Londs couldn't tell if Shikei 
noticed, it didn't matter anyway. A few minutes later, Shikei was asleep comfortably. 
Meanwhile Makoto told everyone what happened to him when he went into the Eye of 
God that last time. Fujisawa was trying to explain to Miz that he was simply waiting for 
Makoto to return before they got married. After all, Makoto was responsible for bringing 
them here. His logic was starting to work until Miz asked why he just didn't tell her to her 
face earlier. That's when he faltered, claiming his mountain climbing was just a way to 
pass the time and see more of El Hazard. If they stayed together, he might forget the 
promise he made to himself and get married earlier. But it was becoming obvious it 
wasn't the complete truth. 
"You just weren't ready!" she realized. Her fiance's silence confirmed it. Upset, Miz 
slapped him across the face. "Why didn't you just tell me?!" she demanded with tears in 
her eyes. 
Fujisawa tried to studder a reply, but nothing was coming out. He was here now. He was 
ready now. He wanted to say his wandering days were over. Didn't that count for 
something? "Would you have listened?" he wound up saying simply, without emotion. 
Miz stepped back in shock, holding the hand she struck him with. She wasn't sure what 
surprised her more, his tone of voice or the possibility he was right. Was she so 
concerned about getting married that she pushed him too far, too fast? Did that desire to 
wed push her to fall in love with Machimichi or did she simply recognize the man she 
was destined to be her spouse? No, she enjoyed his company and felt happier around him. 
She was sure he felt the same way. If he knew how long she waited, how long she felt 
trapped at her shrine, he would understand. But he didn't know. He couldn't know. Miz 
wouldn't admit it, but she would not have listened. Just as he did not understand her 
loneliness, she did not understand the responsibility he felt towards his students. "I ... I 
need to think about some things." she said turning then running away, clutching the pre-
engagement gift he gave her when they thought the world was going to end. 
Fujisawa watched her go, he wanted to chase after her, comfort her. It hurt him to see her 
so sad. He wanted to do something, but knew the best thing he could do right now was 
nothing. Nanami's shout of joy when she entered the room broke him from his trance. He 
watched her as she hugged Makoto so tightly he had trouble breathing. The former 
teacher allowed himself a moment to forget his own problems and savor the feeling of 
satisfaction from knowing his star pupil had done good. 
Shayla Shayla watched things from the shadows. She didn't want the others to see her 
like this. Nanami accepted that she and Makoto would never be more than friends. "So 
why can't I?" Shayla asked herself. She regretted never telling him how she felt and for 
screwing up each time she tried. She had the opportunity, several times. But the words 
would not form in her mouth. Lips would not obey her mind. She knew she loved him. 
How could she not? He risked his own freedom to save her on the first day they met. He 
was polite, humble, forgiving, and cute. More importantly he was nice to her for no other 
reason than the fact it was part of his nature. The other clerics at the temple obeyed her 
because it was her duty. Other people were polite due to her position or fear of her 
temper. But how others act like a friend out of simple magnanimity? No one, just him; 
and he got away. "He's better off without someone who slapped him for trying to save her 
life." she thought to convince herself. It failed. All she wanted to do was go home and 
forget about him in her work. But she knew Makoto would always be with her. Miz was 
right. Some time to think was in order. Patan was relaxing. Maybe Alliele would be ... no 
she was busy with Makoto, trying to get him caught up on all the gossip he missed. 
Instead she took to wandering the halls. She stopped when she reached the spot where she 
last saw Makoto before he left El Hazard the first time. She replayed what happened in 
her mind. She should have said it then. Told him how she felt. It was easy to think that 
now. She knew it. She heard what he said as she left, "I did it for you." That was exactly 
what she did not want to hear. Those were words you told someone you cared about. 
Makoto cared for her, just not the same way she cared for him. Damn! Why didn't he 
understand? She sat in the shadows and tried to think about what she was going to do 
now. But all too often she thought about what she did. 
Shikei did not sleep as long as he would have liked. These beds were too soft. He was 
used to a bed roll and a hard wood floor. This bedroom was clearly one of the finest in 
the palace, reserved for only the most important guests. He felt he wasn't even worthy to 
clean this room, much less sleep in it. He was a criminal, he walked the wrong side of the 
law to protect people better than himself. Such treatment made him feel guilty, as if he 
was stealing from his brother. Things would have to change though. He had power now 
and his new friends knew it. He would become a public figure, called upon to protect 
Roshtaria from the Bugrom, and would be treated as such. If Makoto and Rune got 
married, it would only increase. His past would be a secret he left behind or else. 
But nothing could heal the pain inside him. Luxury was something missing from his life 
for the sake of others. It could not be found and accepted so easily. Maybe he should 
continue the story Master Oba told Shikei's father and be a traveling martial artist. 
Wandering from village to village to protect them from bandits and the Bugrom. 
...The Bugrom. Who knows how many he killed. At first he had no qualms about killing 
them since they weren't human. They acted like a swarm of hornets or cannon fodder. But 
they bled, the cried out in pain. Did they have souls? Were they innately evil or simply 
barely-sentient fanatical servants? Could they be redeemed in the eyes of whatever gods 
ruled this land? Would he be punished for his misdeeds on Earth or in El Hazard? The 
Norse gods loved battle, only those who died while fighting received the best rewards in 
the after-life. Did that apply here? Maybe he gave the Bugrom what they most wished 
for. Shikei knew he would be proud to die in service to his Master. Perhaps he and the 
Bugrom shared this? 
These weren't questions Shikei could even begin to answer. But who to ask? The 
priestesses were more like guardians of the elemental powers than to give spiritual 
advice. Still it was better than nothing. At the least they could point him in the right 
direction. All this thinking about heavy issues made Shikei's head ache. When he held his 
face in his hands, he realized how dirty he must have been. He would have to wash up 
before he could even consider showing his face to his brother and the others. He meekly 
asked a servant for a basin of water. 
As she went to fetch the water, Shikei realized something. Water conducts electricity. He 
could flash fry himself and others by jumping into a pool. He drank some wine and water 
on the royal skimmer, but that was different than actually touching it with his skin. He 
remembered how the water tingled a little as he drank it. It was why he went to wine in 
the first place. The servant set the basin on a desk along with a towel and left. Shikei 
thanked her as he sat at the desk trying to get himself to put this theory to the test. 
Outside, Shayla saw the servant girl leave a room then Makoto thanking her. No, not 
Makoto, Shikei. Despite being twins, their voices sounded different to Shayla's ears. She 
was on her feet in an instant. Wait, she was confusing Makoto's brother for Makoto. The 
two were different people despite their appearances. Yet they were alike. He apologized 
for grabbing her after she rudely shook him awake. He didn't know who she was, or if he 
did, Makoto would not have told him to be nice to her. He was polite for the same 
reasons Makoto was, perhaps more so since Makoto initially needed to use her shrine's 
library. Shikei had no such motivation. This was the perfect chance for her to drop by and 
say 'hi'. 
Inside the room, Shikei was about to slowly put his hands into the water. Pain was no 
stranger in his life, but to intentionally inflect it on yourself would intimidate anyone. 
Shayla burst in, slamming the door open, "Hey there! What's up?" she shouted cheerfully. 
Two patan cards were stuck in her headband. 
Shikei was at a loss. He stood and bowed politely. "I was going to wash up and look for 
one of you." he said truthfully as he remembered his earlier train of thought. 
"Well there's only one of me, so what did you want?" she asked walking casually to the 
desk. 
"I meant a Priestess, Shayla Shayla. I needed to have some questions answered." he said 
with downcast eyes. This wasn't how he pictured things. Shayla was just so forward and 
informal. It was going to be difficult to talk with her. 
"Ask away." she said hopping up to sit on the desk. She raised one knee to her chest and 
said, "Let me guess you want to know a bit more about El-Hazard since you're going to 
be here a while." 
Her presence was so distracting. "Well there was that, but what I really wanted to ask you 
was well ... do the Bugrom have souls? Is it wrong to kill them?" 
"What are you talking about? I've killed dozens, maybe even hundreds of those bugs. 
They're all fanatics for Jinnai anyway. They'd try to kill us, any of us, if they had the 
chance." 
"I just don't want to kill anything that's sentient." he said quietly. It might seem strange 
for someone who has killed before in yakuza warfare, but it didn't mean he liked it. 
Especially afterwards when he slides out of his combat frame of mind and realizes the 
full implications of his actions. Not the implications for him, but for those he had killed. 
Everyone has their own hopes and dreams and Shikei had ended more than he would care 
to remember. True, those dreams were against the law and violated decent people, but 
they were still dreams. 
"They have been our enemy for generations. Raided our land with near impunity until 
your brother and the others showed up." she smirked jokingly, "Don't tell me the great 
Demon-destroyer is worried about squashing a couple of bugs." 
"Speaking of which, how is Ifurita doing?" he asked without emotion. 
Shayla was a bit surprised she hadn't gotten more of a reaction from him, "Well last I 
heard she was chained up far away from her powerstaff. She's asleep right now. Why?" 
"I defeated her. I guess that makes her my responsibility." 
"Now don't go feeling sorry for her. She may be a ditz, but she's still dangerous. You got 
lucky once, don't count on it happening again." she finished slapping her hand on the 
desk, accidently tipping the basin and pouring the water into Shikei's lap. 
Sparks flew as Shikei fell over backwards screaming in surprise and pain. Steam was 
rising from his body and scattered blue energy arcs appeared and vanished from his chest 
to his knees, wherever he was wet. "Get it off! Get it off! Get it off!" he yelled as he 
struggled to shirt off. The shocks were making it nearly impossible. He rolled to the part 
of the floor between the bed and the desk. 
Shayla tried to help, getting on her knees next to him and tried removing his wet pants. 
She yanked them off. Without the wet clothes, his damp skin dried itself instantly. It took 
them both a moment to realize Shayla also accidently took off his underwear and he was 
on his back completely naked. It was at that moment Afura decided to come in and lean 
on the doorway. From her perspective, she could see Shikei's legs and Shayla kneeling 
next to him. "Well I can't say I'm too surprised." she said simply. 
Shikei turned red, not from the already-fading light burns, but from pure embarrassment. 
As did Shayla. He tried to cover himself up. Shayla reacted at the same instant, putting 
her hand over her eyes. Unfortunately she forgot she was still holding his pants. "I didn't 
see anything! I didn't see anything!" she repeated as Afura took her by the arm and led 
her out the room. 
"Care to explain yourself?" Afura asked after the door closed. 
"Well errr aaaaa water, shocks. Had to do it. I didn't see anything!" Shayla studdered, but 
with the same facial expression and odd laughter from when Jinnai cheated her out of the 
Shrine of Fire. 
She still gripped Shikei's clothing tightly as Afura led her father away. Shayla thought, "I 
saw everything!"